New cancer buildings to be named for CL Werner, Suzanne and Walter Scott

A groundbreaking was held today by the University of Nebraska Medical Center and The Nebraska Medical Center for the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center. Major donors to the project were announced at the groundbreaking.

A gift from the CL Werner Foundation will name the hospital tower the CL Werner Cancer Hospital. The research tower will be named the Suzanne and Walter Scott Cancer Research Tower, thanks to a gift made by the Suzanne and Walter Scott Foundation.

CL Werner, honorary chairman of the CL Werner Foundation Board, said he is honored to support this project which will benefit so many people in the community, state and nation, today and for generations to come.

“I am proud the Cancer Hospital is in Omaha and hope everyone shares my excitement about this state-of-the-art initiative,” he added. “It is my sincere desire this unprecedented collaboration will help alleviate suffering and offer hope to individuals and their families who are dealing with a cancer diagnosis.”

Werner serves as chairman emeritus of Werner Enterprises, Inc., one of the largest truckload motor carriers in the nation. Today, the company maintains its global headquarters in Omaha with offices throughout North America and China. Werner founded the company in 1956 with one truck at the age of 19.

Suzanne and Walter Scott Jr. are well-known Omaha philanthropists and active in community affairs. Currently, Walter Scott serves as chairman of the Board of Policy Advisors for the University of Nebraska Peter Kiewit Institute, Heritage Services and the Omaha Zoological Society, among other leadership roles. Suzanne Scott is a director of the Omaha Zoological Society and a former director of numerous community organizations including Joslyn Art Museum, The Salvation Army and United Way of the Midlands.

“Sue and I like to invest in excellence,” said Scott, chairman of the Board of Level 3 Communications and chairman emeritus of Peter Kiewit Sons’, Inc. “This project, and its vision for a new era in fighting cancer, again shows Nebraskans what a treasure they have in our Med Center.”

“We greatly appreciate these significant investments in the cancer center,” said University of Nebraska President James B. Milliken. “CL Werner has been a strong advocate for this project from the beginning, and he recognizes its potential to improve the lives of cancer patients and their families. Walter and Sue Scott’s gift will transform cancer research and bring together the best minds in the country in the search for a cure. We are deeply indebted to the Werner Foundation and the Scott Foundation for their gifts.”

The University of Nebraska’s Board of Regents will vote on the namings at its June meeting.

The gifts to the cancer center support the University of Nebraska Foundation’s comprehensive fundraising campaign, the Campaign for Nebraska: Unlimited Possibilities.

Construction of the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center will cost $323 million, the largest project ever at the University of Nebraska. In addition to the private gifts, the state of Nebraska has pledged $50 million toward the project, the city of Omaha $35 million and Douglas County $5 million. Demolition work began this month toward construction.